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Friday, 4 January 2013

Japan's cautious return to nuclear power

Japan's cautious return to nuclear power: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20130103f2.html
"Japan appears to be heading toward a gradual revival of nuclear power
generation under a new government supportive of retaining it, but the
outlook for the industry in 2013 is unclear, with antinuclear sentiment
still lingering among the public amid the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1
atomic plant. The new government led by the Liberal Democratic
Party has already signaled that it has no intention of following in the
footsteps of the Democratic Party of Japan government, which was
overthrown after the Dec. 16 election, when it comes to energy policy.
The DPJ government aimed at phasing out nuclear power by the 2030s.
"We need to reconsider the previous government's policy of seeking zero
operations of nuclear plants," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister
Toshimitsu Motegi told a press conference shortly after assuming the
ministerial post. He also said that completely giving up Japan's
spent-fuel recycling policy, which would lose its role if nuclear power
generation ends, is "currently not an option," and that the government
backs the resumption of reactors as long as they are deemed safe by the
Nuclear Regulation Authority, the new atomic watchdog. The remarks
are likely to encourage utilities, which have been desperate to restart
idled reactors to boost their business. The minister's words also leave
open the possibility of allowing utilities to install new reactors that
have been planned but are not yet under construction."

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Welcome to the Future of Neutron Scattering in Canada
a grassroots, nonpartisan movement of ordinary Canadians
that emerged in response to the lack of commitment by federal government(s) to build a new research reactor in Canada for nearly 2 decades.